Oscillating powered cultivating tool

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a powered cultivating tool or the like which includes a prime mover disposed within a housing, an output shaft extending from .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.housing having a pinion fixed thereto, .[.said.]. .Iadd.such .Iaddend.pinion being placed in meshing engagement with a gear having a first roller thereon offset from the axis of rotation of the gear which engages a cam follower operatively connected to a cultivating implement such as a tine so that the implement displays an oscillatory pendulum-like motion about a vertical radial line extending from an axis rotation of the gear. It is contemplated that the gear has extending therefrom an axle whose opposed extremity from the gear is provided with a disc hub having a similar roller, cam follower and the like for accommodating either a terminal portion of the first cultivating implement, or a second cultivating implement so that the sychronization of the two cam followers can be beneficially altered as is required by gardening constraints and the like.

.Iadd.This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.06/848,836, filed on Apr. 2, 1986, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 06/607,104, filed May 3, 1984, both now abandoned..Iaddend.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Since time immemorial man has been obsessed with obtaining greateryields of produce from his agriculture endeavors. It is well known thata tilled garden encourages move vigorous growth of the produce due toelimination of unwanted competition as in the form of weeds.

Accordingly, the following U.S. Pat. Nos. appear to reflect the state ofart of which applicant is aware insofar as they are germane to thepatent process: 1,827,074 Ditlevsen Oct. 13, 1931, 2,550,552 BolongardApr. 24, 1951, 2,779,259 Kelsey Jan. 29, 1957, 2,816,495 Brooks Dec. 17,1957, 3,548,953 Richardson Dec. 22, 1970, 3,756,324 Bills Sept. 4, 1973,4,003,436 Foster Jan. 18, 1977.

Of these, Bolongard teaches the use of a reciprocatory hole in which ahandle has disposed thereon a wheel supported from the handle by meansof a bifurcated frame upon which frame rests a motor adapted to driveboth the wheel and a hoe. The hoe is chain driven indirectly through aneccentric cam so as to provide reciprocatory motion about an axis whichis coincident with the handle.

The patent to Ditlevsen teaches the use of a pick-type power operatedhoe having an external power source and a fixed pivot point about whichthe hoe operates.

The patent to Richardson teaches the use of a shrubbery and plant diggerin which a telescopic sleeve reciprocates and by applying pressure fromthe handle portion, the implement presumably will go under the ground.

Of these three patents, the first discussed patent requires the use of awheeled motorized support in order to make the device effective, sinceas shown in the second and third discussed patents it is not clear fromthe mechanical actions involved in these patents whether or not theperson holding on to the implement would be receiving the cyclic powerpulses, or whether they could be adequately distributed and dischargedinto the soil. That is, if the soil were unusually hard it would appearas though the persons holding on to the handles of these implementswould receive the power pulses contrary to the objects of the devices.

The remaining references appear to diverge even further from thestructure and claims according to the instant application and thosesimilarities between any of these patents and that which is taught inthe instant application appears to be merely coincidental.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device whichcultivates ground safely, efficiently, and with greater ease than thatwhich the prior art would suggest.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a device of thecharacter described above which is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, extremely durable in construction, and readilymanueverable.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a device ofthe character described above which can be readily modified as to itsvarious forms or configurations of cutting implements and the actions ofthe various cultivating implements modified so as to provide a highdegree of flexibility in use for plural gardening chores.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a device of thecharacter described above which is adapted to be used on all types ofterrain, and nimble enough to work in close proximity to plants, whilestill being capable of cultivating an expanse of area beyond the ken ofcurrent machinery.

These and other objects are provided by the invention according to theinstant application which teaches the use of a housing within which isprovided a prime mover having an output shaft, linkage means operativelyconnected to the output shaft which includes at least a first eccentriccam, and a cutting implement operatively connected to said eccentric camso that the implement displays an oscillatory pendulum-like motion abouta vertical radial line extending from an axis of rotation of theeccentric cam.

Moreover, these and other objects will be made manifest when consideringthe following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with theappended drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the apparatus in one form according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the bottom portion of FIG. 1 showing a second formof the cultivating implement.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the cultivating implement according to thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings now, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10is directed to the powered cultivating tool according to the presentinvention. The powered cultivating tool 10 includes a prime mover Mwhich as depicted in the drawings is suggestive of an electrical motor,wherein a power cord and plug P extend outwardly from a housing, but itshould be appreciated that other forms of prime movers such as gasolineengines and the like are contemplated as being within the scope of thispatent.

At any rate, the prime mover M has an output shaft 11 extending withoutthe housing upon which is affixed as by a cotter pin a pinion 13. Thepinion 13 communicates in meshing engagment with a gear 14 rotatablydisposed on an axle 23, wherein the axle is affixed to the gear 14 bymeans of pins 29. Bearings 30 suitably support the axle/gear in a mannerwell known in the art.

An outer face of the gear 14 has disposed thereon a first roller 15offset from the geometrical center of the gear so as to provide aneccentric cam effect. Straddling the roller 15, a first cam follower 16is provided having an upwardly extending bifurcated portion whichstraddles the first roller to transmit the cam's motion. The lowerportion of the cam follower 17 is affixed to a spindle 19 which will beexplained hereinafter, but as shown in FIG. 1, .[.15.]. .Iadd.is.Iaddend.substantially frictionless supported by means of the bushings22 and 21.

Affixed to the lower portion of the cam follower 17 is a first tine 18which curves inwardly as at 41 and then upwardly as shown upwardly byreference numeral 40, FIG. 1.

In view of the foregoing, it should be apparent that when the motor isenergized, the implement 18 will display an oscillatory pendulum-likemotion about a vertical radial line extending from an axis of rotationof the gear 16.

The axle 23 has an extremity remote from the gear 16 which has affixedthereto a hubbed disc 24 similarly affixed to the axle by means of pins29 and supported by .[.bushings.]. .Iadd.bearings .Iaddend.30. Thehubbed disc 24 is further affixed to the axle 23 by means of screw 31,and a peripheral portion of the disc 24 has a second roller 25 offsetfrom the axis similar to the first roller 15, and this roller similarlydrives a cam follower having a bifurcated upper portion 26 whichstraddles the second roller, and a lower portion 27 supported on aspindle 19 as through bearings 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, two spindles 19 are provided each of which share acommon bushing block 21, and the spindles are retarded from axialtranslation by means of locks 20 constrained within the grooves on thespindles proximate to their common bushing so that the danger of tinebecoming dislodged is effectively prohibited not only by theconstruction of the spindle but also an outer bulbous portion of therollers 15 and 25 as shown in the drawings. In one form of the inventionthe first and second rollers 15 and 25 are adapted to work 180° out ofphase so that the motion of one of the tines 28 opposes the motion ofthe other tine 18 and a balanced opposing working force is providedcontrary to the prior art. Such an arrangement would have obviousutility in working rather hard soil which has not been cultivatedrecently. In a second form of the invention a single tine 18' has twoupper portions and is substantially in the form of a U, wherein each ofthe upper portions affixes to its respective cam follower, and the camfollowers connection to the first and second rollers is such that theyare not 180° out of phase but they travel together so that the motion ofthe followers is not opposed but in unison. This type of arrangementwould perhaps be best suited for working in soils that are already lightand aeriated and in which a gentle scrubbing of the topmost soil isdesired. A single spindle 19 is required, roller 25 is optional, andtherfore cam follower upper portion 26 is superfluous.

FIG. 3 shows an end view of the apparatus according to the presentinvention in which it is clear that the spindle 19, axle 23, and outputshaft 11 are all symmetrically disposed and vertically aligned so thatthe machine is not only self-balanced but the majority of the weightassociated with the machine is directed as a vertical component absorbedby its reaction to the soil, and does not have to be borne by the personoperating the implement, as has frequently occurred in the prior art.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the housing includes and supports a handle 1of any suitable configuration, a top plate 3 which conceals the motor Mand is affixed to the housing through bolts that extend into elementalarea 4 of the housing, and the motor M is bolted within the housing asthrough 5. In this particular instance, a cooling fan 12 is provided forthe electrical motor.

A lower portion of the housing has spaced walls 6 and 7 interconnectedby means of a threaded bolt 8 which is placed just above the spindle(s)as shown in the drawings and the spindle 19 has protection from theenvironment by means of a bottom shroud 9.

Having thus described the invention therefore, it should be apparentthat numerous structural modifications are contemplated as being a partof this invention as described hereinabove and as defined hereinbelow bythe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A powered cultivating tool or the likecomprising, in combination:a housing having a top portion including ahandle supported thereon, said housing defining an enclosure within atopmost portion of which a prime mover is disposed, ventilation meansfor said prime mover, an output shaft extending from said prime moverwithout said housing, a pinion fixed to said output shaft and an axlehaving opposite extremities with a gear carried on one of saidextremities, said gear being adapted to mesh with said pinion, said axlesupported on bearings within said housing and being vertically below andparallel to said prime mover's output shaft and having both saidextremities extending without said housing, a roller on said gear,axially offset from said axle defining a first cam, a spindle meansvertically below and parallel to said axle disposed in said housingsupported on bearings and having terminal portions extending outwardlyfrom said housing, a first cam follower fixed on said spindle meanshaving an upwardly open U-shaped bifurcated portion straddling saidroller, and a cultivating tine fixed to said cam follower and saidspindle for pendulum like oscillation in response to movement .Iadd.of.Iaddend.said roller through said prime mover.
 2. The device of claim 1wherein said axle's other extremity is connected to a hubbed discprovided with a second roller thereon which is offset from a center lineof said axle thereby providing a second eccentric cam, and a second camfollower straddling said second roller.
 3. The device of claim 2 whereinsaid first and second cam followers move about a common axis andincludes said spindle means affixed to a respective one of said camfollowers at opposed extremities of said spindle means, said spindlemeans constrained from axial displacement.
 4. A device of claim 3wherein said spindle means are constrained from axial translation bygrooves on said spindle means and lock rings in said grooves adapted toabut against bushings.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said tine has afirst and a second upper portion, each said portion connected to saidspindle means, said first and second rollers aligned to travel together,said spindle means formed as one piece.
 6. The device of claim 4including a second tine fastened to said second follower, said first andsecond rollers are aligned 180° out of phase, said spindle means formedas two pieces.
 7. The device of claim 5 or 6 wherein said housing isformed from spaced walls interconnected by a threaded bolt, a bottomshroud communicating with said spaced walls and protecting the interiorof said housing and a removable top plate connected to said side walls,said top plate supporting said handle and providing access to theinterior of said housing .Iadd.
 8. A powered cultivating tool or thelike comprising, in combination:a casing having a ground end and anopposed end, said ground end being adapted to be the end nearer to theground to be worked by the tool and said opposed end being adapted to bethe end more distant from the ground to be worked by the tool, saidcasing defining an enclosure within which a prime mover is disposed,ventilation means for said prime mover, an output shaft extending fromsaid prime mover without said casing, a pinion fixed to said outputshaft and an axle having opposite extremities with a gear carried on oneof said extremities, said gear being adapted to mesh with said pinion,said axle being supported on bearings within said casing, being parallelto said prime mover's output shaft, being disposed toward said groundend of said casing from said output shaft and having both saidextremities extending without said casing, a roller on said gear,axially offset from said axle, defining a first cam, a spindle meanssupported within said casing, said spindle means being parallel to saidaxle, being disposed toward said ground end of said casing from saidaxle and having terminal portions extending without said casing, a camfollower on said spindle means having a bifurcated portion straddlingsaid roller, and a cultivating tine fixed to said cam follower forpendulum like oscillation in response to movement of said roller throughsaid prime mover. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein saidspindle means is mounted to be rotatable. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The deviceof claim 8 wherein said spindle means includes first and second spindlemembers. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A powered cultivating tool or the likecomprising, in combination:a casing having a ground end and an opposedend, said ground end being adapted to be the end nearer to the ground tobe worked by the tool and said opposed end being adapted to be the endmore distant from the ground to be worked by the tool, said casingdefining an enclosure within which a prime mover is disposed, an outputshaft extending from said prime mover, an axle with a gear carried onsaid axle operatively connected to said output shaft to rotate saidaxle, said axle being supported on bearings within said casing, beingparallel to said prime mover's output shaft and being disposed towardsaid ground end of said casing from said output shaft, a roller mountedto move with said rotation of said axle, axially offset from said axle,defining a cam, a spindle means supported within said casing, saidspindle means being parallel to said axle and being disposed toward saidground end of said casing from said axle, a cam follower on said spindlemeans having a bifurcated portion straddling said roller, saidbifurcated portion having an elongated opening for said movement of saidroller along said cam follower, and a cultivating tine fixed to said camfollower for pendulum like oscillation in response to said movement ofsaid roller through said prime mover. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The device ofclaim 11 wherein said spindle means is mounted to be rotatable..Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The device of claim 11 wherein said spindle meansincludes first and second spindle members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A poweredcultivating tool or the like, comprising in combination:a housing havinga ground end and an opposed end, said ground end being adapted to be theend nearer to the ground to be worked by the tool and said opposed endbeing adapted to be the end more distant from the ground to be worked bythe tool, a prime mover having an output shaft, an axle, a gear carriedon said axle operatively connected to said output shaft to rotate saidaxle, a pin member mounted to move with said rotation of said axle,axially offset from said axle, defining a cam, a spindle means parallelto said axle and disposed toward said ground end of said housing fromsaid axle, a cam follower having a bifurcated portion straddling saidpin member and being mounted to swing from said spindle means with saidmovement of said pin member, and a cultivating tine for fixing to saidcam follower to swing from said spindle means in a pendulum likeoscillation with said movement of said pin member, said tine comprisinga first elongated portion to extend from the vicinity of said ground endof said housing toward the ground, a second elongated portion angularlydisposed with respect to said first portion to extend inwardly andtoward the ground to be worked by the tool, and a third elongatedportion angularly disposed with respect to said second portion to extendinwardly and toward said ground end of said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15.The device of claim 14 wherein said spindle means is mounted to berotatable. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The device of claim 14 furthercomprising:a second pin member mounted to move with said rotation ofsaid axle, axially offset from said axle 180° out of phase with saidfirst pin member, defining a second cam, a second cam follower having abifurcated portion straddling said second pin member and being mountedto swing from said spindle means with said movement of said second pinmember, and a second cultivating tine for fixing to said second camfollower to swing from said spindle means in a pendulum like oscillationwith said movement of said second pin member 180° out of phase with saidfirst tine. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The device of claim 16 wherein saidspindle means includes first and second spindle members, said first camfollower and said first tine to swing from said first spindle member andsaid second cam follower and said second tine to swing from said secondspindle member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The device of claim 14 wherein:saidhousing defines an enclosure within which said prime mover is disposed,said axle is supported within said housing, parallel to said primemover's output shaft, and disposed toward said ground end of saidhousing from said output shaft, and said spindle means is supportedwithin said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A powered cultivating tool orthe like, comprising in combination:a housing having a ground end and anopposed end, said ground end being adapted to be the end nearer to theground to be worked by the tool and said opposed end being adapted to bethe end more distant from the ground to be worked by the tool, a primemover having an output shaft, an axle, a gear carried on said axleoperatively connected to said output shaft to rotate said axle, a pinmember mounted to move with said rotation of said axle, axially offsetfrom said axle, defining a cam, a spindle means parallel to said axleand disposed toward said ground end of said housing from said axle, acam follower having a bifurcated portion straddling said pin member andbeing mounted to swing from said spindle means with said movement ofsaid pin member, said bifurcated portion having an elongated opening forsaid movement of said pin member along said cam follower, and acultivating tine for fixing to said cam follower to swing from saidspindle means in a pendulum like oscillation with said movement of saidpin member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The device of claim 19 furthercomprising: a second pin member mounted to move with said rotation ofsaid axle, axially offset from said axle substantially out of phase withsaid first pin member, defining a second cam, a second cam followerhaving a bifurcated portion straddling said second pin member and beingmounted to swing from said spindle means with said movement of saidsecond pin member, said bifurcated portion having an elongated openingfor said movement of said second pin member along said second camfollower, and a second cultivating tine for fixing to said second camfollower to swing from said spindle means in a pendulum like oscillationwith said movement of said second pin member substantially out of phasewith said first tine. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The device of claim 19 furthercomprising: a second pin member mounted to move with said rotation ofsaid axle, axially offset from said axle 180° out of phase with saidfirst pin member, defining a second cam, a second cam follower having abifurcated portion straddling said second pin member and being mountedto swing from said spindle means with said movement of said second pinmember, said bifurcated portion having an elongated opening for saidmovement of said second pin member along said second cam follower, and asecond cultivating tine for fixing to said second cam follower to swingfrom said spindle means in a pendulum like oscillation with saidmovement of said second pin member 180° out of phase with said firsttine. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The device of claim 19 wherein said tinecomprises a first elongated portion to extend from the vicinity of saidground end of said housing toward the ground and a second elongatedportion angularly disposed with respect to said first portion to extendinwardly and toward the ground to be worked by the tool. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. The device of claim 22 further comprising:a second pin membermounted to move with said rotation of said axle, axially offset fromsaid axle substantially out of phase with said first pin member,defining a second cam, a second cam follower having a bifurcated portionstraddling said second pin member and being mounted to swing from saidspindle means with said movement of said second pin member, saidbifurcated portion having an elongated opening for said movement of saidsecond pin member along said second cam follower, and a secondcultivating tine for fixing to said second cam follower to swing fromsaid spindle means in a pendulum like oscillation with said movement ofsaid second pin member substantially out of phase with said first tine,said second tine comprising a first elongated portion to extend from thevicinity of said ground end of said housing toward the ground and asecond elongated portion angularly disposed with respect to said firstportion to extend inwardly and toward the ground to be worked by thetool. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The device of claim 22 further comprising:asecond pin member mounted to move with said rotation of said axle,axially offset from said axle 180° out of phase with said first pinmember, defining a second cam, a second cam follower having a bifurcatedportion straddling said second pin member and being mounted to swingfrom said spindle means with said movement of said second pin member,said bifurcated portion defining an elongated opening for said movementof said second pin member along said second cam follower, and a secondcultivating tine for fixing to said second cam follower to swing fromsaid spindle means in a pendulum like oscillation with said movement ofsaid second pin member 180° out of phase with said first tine, saidsecond tine comprising a first elongated portion to extend from thevicinity of said ground end of said housing toward the ground and asecond elongated portion angularly disposed with respect to said firstportion to extend inwardly and toward the ground to be worked by thetool. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The device of claim 19 wherein: said housingdefines an enclosure within which said prime mover is disposed, saidaxle is supported within said housing, parallel to said prime mover'soutput shaft, and disposed toward said ground end of said housing fromsaid output shaft, and said spindle means is supported within saidhousing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. A powered cultivating tool or the like,comprising in combination:a housing having a ground end and an opposedend, said ground end being adapted to be the end nearer to the ground tobe worked by the tool and said opposed end being adapted to be the endmore distant from the ground to be worked by the tool, a prime moverhaving an output shaft, an axle, a gear carried on said axle operativelyconnected to said output shaft to rotate said axle, a pin member mountedto move with said rotation of said axle, axially offset from said axle,defining a cam, a spindle means parallel to said axle and disposedtoward said ground end of said housing from said axle, a cam followerhaving a bifurcated portion straddling said pin member and being mountedto swing from said spindle means with said movement of said pin member,said bifurcated portion having an elongated opening for said movement ofsaid pin member along said cam follower, and a cultivating tine forfixing to said cam follower to swing from said spindle means in apendulum like oscillation with said movement of said pin member, saidtine being shaped to extend, during said swinging, under said housing..Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The device of claim 26 wherein the tine comprises afirst elongated portion to extend from the vicinity of said ground endof said housing toward the ground and a second elongated portionangularly disposed with respect to said first portion to extend inwardlytoward the ground to be worked by the tool, and to extend, during saidswinging under said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The device of claim 27further comprising: a second pin member mounted to move with saidrotation of said axle, axially offset from said axle substantially outof phase with said first pin member, defining a second cam, a second camfollower having a bifurcated portion straddling said second pin memberand being mounted to swing from said spindle means with said movement ofsaid second pin member, and a second cultivating tine for fixing to saidsecond cam follower to swing from said spindle means in a pendulum likeoscillation with said movement of said second pin member substantiallyout of phase with said first tine, said second tine being shaped toextend, during said swinging, under said housing, said second tinecomprising a first elongated portion to extend from the vicinity of saidground end of said housing toward the ground and a second elongatedportion angularly disposed with respect to said first portion to extendinwardly toward the ground to be worked by the tool, and to extend,during said swinging, under said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The deviceof claim 27 further comprising:a second pin member mounted to move withsaid rotation of said axle, axially offset from said axle 180° out ofphase with said first pin member, defining a second cam, a second camfollower having a bifurcated portion straddling said second pin memberand being mounted to swing from said spindle means with said movement ofsaid second pin member, and a second cultivating tine for fixing to saidsecond cam follower to swing from said spindle means in a pendulum likeoscillation with said movement of said second pin member 180° out ofphase with said first tine, said second tine being shaped to extend,during said swinging, under said housing, said second tine comprising afirst elongated portion to extend from the vicinity of said ground endof said housing toward the ground and a second elongated portionangularly disposed with respect to said first portion to extend inwardlytoward the ground to be worked by the tool, and to extend, during saidswinging, under said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The device of claim 26wherein:said housing defines an enclosure within which said primer moveris disposed, said axle is supported within said housing, parallel tosaid prime mover's output shaft, and disposed toward said ground end ofsaid housing from said output shaft, and said spindle means is supportedwithin said housing. .Iaddend.